Native Hedging

If the weather is unsuitable for planting on receiving the hedging then dig a hole and bury the roots of the bunched plants. (storage prior to this should be inside away from possible frosts.) They can be stored like this until planting becomes possible.

When planting you either plant them in a single row 4 per metre. Or a double staggered row 6 per metre. The easiest way is to dig a trench down to the required depth. They need to be planted to the same depth as you can see above the roots on the whips. Place the whips in the ground spreading the roots out carefully. Then backfill so they are secure in the ground. Water the ground then leave.

After planting it is advantageous to mulch the hedge with lawn mowings or leafmould to suppress weeds. If preferred this can be done using plastic or carpet ground cover placed around the plants and covered with soil.

All the species in a wildlife hedge can be cut back or ‘coppiced’ without harm, in the first year after establishment, the hedge can be cut back to stimulate the growth of the hedge from the base. Thereafter cut every 2 –3 years. the best time to cut is in spring after wildlife has benefited from berries etc as a food source and before birds start to nest.